"Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people." (1 Chronicles 16:8) ______________________________________________________________________
O SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP Tune to "O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES" CM Words by JIM BYRD
1. On thee O Shepherd of the sheep, I cast my helpless soul; Who else can save me from my sin Or make my spirit whole?
2. Thy righteousness O Lamb of God, In mercy grant to me; For only in Thy beauty can I live eternally.
3. O sprinkle now Thy cleansing blood, My conscience purge from sin; Send now Thy Spirit to my heart, And do a work within.
4. Be Thou the Guardian of my life, Direct my ev’ry way; I need a Guide and Counsellor, Lest I should go astray.
5. And when my earthly journey ends, And life on earth shall cease; Conduct me safely to Thyself, And everlasting peace. ______________________________________________________________________
REDEMPTION: UNIVERSAL OR PARTICULAR?
Of all the errors set forth in churches across the world, none is more contrary to the scriptures, more degrading to the Father or more insulting to the Son of God than that of universal redemption or unlimited atonement. This theory states that when the Lord Jesus hung on the cross, He bore the sins of Adam’s fallen race, suffering the wrath of God in the stead of all mankind. Universal redemption declares that He died for every person who would ever live - as much for Judas who is in hell, as for Paul who is in heaven - paying their debt of sin, yet His death did not actually put away the transgressions of anyone. This belief says His sacrifice only made redemption available, requiring some contribution on the sinner’s part in order to render the Savior’s death effectual. The heresy of unlimited atonement makes His sacrifice, not an accomplishment of redemption, but an attempt to redeem. If He merely opened up the possibility of salvation, if He put everyone in a savable position, then it stands to reason that all who enter into heaven’s glory are saved, not because of the death of Christ, but because of what they decided to do.
The Word of God clearly states that the death of the Lord Jesus was an accomplishment, not an attempt; it was a successful work done for God on behalf of a particular people. "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 2:14). "I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it" (Ephesians 5:25). "For the transgression of my people was He stricken" (Isaiah 53:8). Clearly, Christ redeemed His chosen people by His bloody death at Calvary. He died for our sins and arose again, thereby satisfying the demands of offended justice. The Savior drank the cup of God’s wrath, and no condemnation remains for those in whose stead He laid down His life. By the sacrifice of Himself, Christ canceled the debt His people owed to the law of God and brought in everlasting righteousness for them. He made an end of the sins of His people, and divine justice can demand no more. By His substitutionary death, Christ Jesus made full satisfaction for sin, otherwise, there could be no salvation from sin; where satisfaction has been made, salvation is a certainty. "He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Hebrews 9:26). The sins of all for whom Christ died are gone forever, drowned in His blood, and those people (His sheep, His church, His people) are made "the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). ______________________________________________________________________
THE LIFE OF FAITH
Faith rests upon the strongest foundation there is, "the Word of God that liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Peter 1:23). It is within this book that we read of Christ, and that in Him alone all spiritual and eternal needs are well-supplied. Believing Him means renouncing every fleshly confidence, repenting of our dead works, turning from our idols and relying solely upon that One "Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). The life of faith is entrusting yourself to His care. It is committing your way unto Him Who, in His infinite wisdom, is leading you through your earthly pilgrimage, believing His Word that when your journey ends, you will "see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). ______________________________________________________________________
"TO THE LAW AND TO THE TESTIMONY" (Isaiah 8:20). All false doctrine is due to either neglecting the Word of God, deleting from the Word of God or adding to the Word of God. It is the command of the Lord that we bow to the authority of the Scriptures and that our beliefs be confined within the borders of this inspired Book. We must hear what "thus saith the LORD," and reject every voice that speaks contrary to His Word. ______________________________________________________________________
First Baptist Church 881 Van Dyke Road, P.O. Box 155, Almont, Michigan 48003 810-798-8888 Jim Byrd, Pastor
Sunday Schedule: 8:30 a.m. Television Broadcast over Cable Channel 97 in Almont, Imlay City and Dryden 9:45 a.m. Bible Classes 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. WORSHIP SERVICE
Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Study and Youth Groups
Pastor Byrd’s messages are accessible on www.freegraceradio.com, cassette and video tape, CD and DVD www.sermonaudio.com/fbcalmont email: fbc@airadvantage.net
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